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The New Year has arrived, and you may feel pressure to come up with several unrealistic resolutions that will eventually do nothing but cause you stress. Instead, you might want to focus on a few goals that are not only manageable, but will also help you feel better as a whole and reduce your pain in 2019.
Try Out Yoga
Yoga is an effective type of exercise that not only works out your body, but calms your mind as well. Taking a yoga class or even practicing a simple sun salutation before you start your day at home will keep you relaxed, stretch out your muscles, and decrease stiffness and pain. Find yoga poses that specifically target painful areas such as your neck or back for a more focused practice.
Drink More Water
Drinking water does wonders for your skin, hair, and overall health. It’s also a great way to ease your chronic pain issues. Spinal discs need water to absorb shock and function correctly, meaning that dehydration can cause neck and back pain. Without the proper amount of water to lubricate your spinal discs, their outer layers shrink, causing swelling, ruptures, and general discomfort. Although medical science does not back a magic number of ounces you need to maintain perfect hydration, a general rule of thumb is to drink half your weight in ounces (for example, if you are 160 pounds, aim to drink 80 ounces of water a day).
Work on Your Posture
Besides making yourself appear taller, leaner, and more alert, keeping good posture can decrease chronic pain. When you slouch, your muscles become stiff as they try to keep your body balanced. Good posture keeps bones and joints in correct alignment, reducing stress on ligaments and allowing muscles to work more efficiently. Try to be conscious of your posture and correct yourself when necessary, especially when sitting for long periods of time in front of a screen or riding in a car.
Take Vitamin D
If you live in the Pacific Northwest, you likely have a vitamin D deficiency. Sunlight is a significant source of vitamin D, so all our rainy and cloudy days may be preventing us from reaping its benefits. Vitamin D regulates the amount of calcium we have in our body, which is critical to maintaining strong bones and joints. Take a multivitamin or vitamin D supplement daily to help decrease bone and joint aches.
As always, if you feel like you need help managing your chronic pain, we recommend that you see a specialist. Schedule a consultation at Spencer Chiropractic Center and let us ease your discomfort and help keep you pain-free in 2019!